Steaming-tank.



Patented Mar. 5, 190|.

R. BIRKHULZ.

STEAMING TANK.

`(Application led Aug. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.)

No. 669,250. Patented Mar. 5, |9ol.

n. BmKHoLz. l

s rEAmms TANK..

(Application led Aug. 8, 19041)' (No Model.) 2 Shests-Shaet 2,

ff, M

lUNria RICHARD BIRKHOLZ, Ol MILWVAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE LINK BELT MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAlVIlNG-TAN K.

SEGIEIGATIGN formi-agcart of' Letters Patent No. 669,250, dated March 5, 1901.

Application iiletl August 3, 1900. Serial No.2579l. (No model.)

To all whom t may con/cern: the process has taken place unfit for occu- Be it known that I, RICHARD BIRKHOLZ, a pants. For these reasons the tank should be citizen of the United States, residing at Milinclosed as far as possible. Again, the botwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and Iles or glass jars are commonly thick at the 55 5 State of lVisconsin, have invented a certain bottom, and it is desirable to subject them new and useful Improvement inSteamingto the heating process in its early stages in Tanks, of which the following is a speciiicasuch a Way as to provide for this thickened tion. bottom or to subject it to a non-dangerous My invention relates to steaming-tanks, but slightly higher degree of heal than the 6o 1o and has for its object to provide a new and rest of the bottle, thus minimizing the danimproved tank adapted to be used for heatger of breakage by making the effective heat ing or treating by varying temperatures jars, applied variable in proportion to the thickcans, bottles, or the like containing perishness of the bottle.

able material of any description. In order to accomplish the general result 65 I5 My invention is illustrated in the accomdesired, together With the specific features panying drawings, Whereinof that result above referred to, I provide,

Figure l is a longitudinal section through broadly speaking, an apparatus which cona device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is sists of a continuouslyoperating endless a section-on line 2 2, Fig, l. chain, which is utilized continuously through- 7o zo Like letters refer to like parts throughout out its entire length, a tank in which the both figures. same moves and Which is practically closed In the ordinary process ofb treating subto the chamber or rooin in which the apparastances Which are to be placed in glass bottus is located and which has compartments, tles or cans the practice is to can or inclose Water and steam supply connections, and 75 25 the substance in a bottle when it is at a commeans for conducting the conveyer-belt` so paratively high temperature; but it is found that the bottles or cans or jars are succesnecessary to secure the best results to subsively presented toaspray of warming-water, sequently reheat the bottle and contents, and a bath of heated vapor, water of increasing this is effected by passing the same into suctemperature, anda cooling-spray. Moreover, 8o

3o cessively-increasipg temperatures and then the arrangement is such that While the botcooling it sufficiently to permit of its being tles are passing through the heated vapor the handled, the temperature at some stage of bottoms are exposed to additional or radiant the process being quite considerable. There heat, or, in other words, to heat in addition are a series of difficulties which are likely to to that of the vapor, and therefore in excess 85 35 arise in connection with the carrying out of of the heat applied to other portions of the this process. In the first place, the process is bottles or jars. The bottles or jars are carnecessarilycomparatively sloW, and therefore ried in groups in baskets or cages, so that if requires for operation on a large scale a very broken the parts will be carried around and considerable floor-space, or, in other Words, can be taken out by the person in charge of 9o 4o a large plant. Again, the bottles While passthe machine.

ing from one temperature to another are very Referring now to the drawings, I have likely to be broken, and this breakage is liashown one construction embodying myinvenble to take place at various points along the tion. This construction consists of a boX A, line of travel; but the broken. parts should placed above the working floorB, and a tank 95 45 be removed, for otherwise they endanger the C, placed below the working floor B. An endother bottles. Again, when broken theconless chain or other power-transmitting device tents of course immediately are incorporated D passes over suitable sprocketwheels or with the contents of the heating-tank, and in pulleys in the parts A and C, said chain passa short time odors and gases arise whichv are ing up through the Working floor B, as shown Ioo 5o injurious, and mixed with escaping steam or in Eig. l. This chain is driven by any suit- Vapor tend to render the apartment in which able agency. As herein illustrated, the chain consists of two parts, one on each side of the device, as shown in Fig 2. A series of plan' forms or trays D' are suspended between the parts of the chain, as shown in Fig. 2. These platforms or trays are preferably supported, not by the chain, but by some other agency. As herein shown, the trays are provided with the end pieces D2, carrying` the shafts D3. 'lhese shafts are provided with the wheels D", which engage the supports or rails D5. The chain is attached to these shafts between the wheels and the end pieces D2. The trays or platformsA may be of any desired shape and are adapted to receive the cans, jars, bottles, or the like in which the material is contained. 'lhe box or part A is provided with the charging-openinfy A', as shown in Fig. l, and the material to be treated is placed upon the trays at this point. It will thus be seen that when the chain is set in motion each tray or plat form will be carried completely around the device and back to the starting-point, where the material may be removed. The part A is provided with a suitable means for spraying 'water upon the material as the trays pass through this part. Any suitable means for this purpose may be used. As herein shown, I provide a series of perforated pipes A2, which are connected by a pipe A3 wit-h a pump A4 and a reservoir A5.

The bottom of the'upper part A is provided with a pan A or other device for collecting the water after it has beensprayed upon the devices to be treated, and this can is connected by a pipe A7 with the reservoir A5. It will be seen that by' this means the same water may be used continuously. The tank C is partly iilled with water, the Water being deep enough to completely cover the jars or other devices placed upon the platforms. At the bottom of the tank. are placed two series of steampipes C and C2, connected with some source of steam-su pply, so as to heat the water in the tank. I prefer to have one Set of pipes arranged or controlled so that the water at that end will be heated to a higher degree than the. water at the other end, thus producing a tank of hot water varying in temperature from one end to the other. These steampipes are controlled automatically, so as to keep the water at a certain temperature. This may be done in any desired man ner-as, for example, by providing the Valves C3 with an automatic thermostatic controlling device. Instead of making the tank C in one part I may make it in two parts, as shown in Fig. l, by providing the part or projectionC5, which extends up to the ceiiing below the working i'loor B and also extends partly int-o the Water in the tank, so as to make a water seal. A second setof steam-pipes @Senter the tank above the water and are perforated, so as to permit steam to escape into the tank.- These steam-pipes should be provided with suitable valves, so that the amount of steam in the upper part of the tank can be properly controlled. The upper part of the tank C is also heated bythe heat radiating from tho hot water. This surface of hot wat-er is hotter than the space above it and forms a heated wall for such Space or vapor-chamber,77 as I have sometimes called it. When the bottles, jars, or other receptacles for the material to be treated are made of glass, it often happens that they break when the material is subjected to heat. I therefore prefer tohave the platforms D' adapted to receive these receptacles when inthe noxes E, in which they are handled while in the facto ry, the boxes being plat-.ed upon the platforms. as shown in Fig. 2. ln this event if the receptacles become broken the parts are not permitted to fall into the tank, so as to obstruct the. free passage of the following platforms, but are held in the box, so that they can be removed at thechargiiig-opening. In many instances the material in the receptacles when they become broken falls into thetank and contaminates the watetgso that it corrodes and inj nres the metal of the chain. In order to avoid this as much as possible, I prefer to use a malle able chain with a natural black coating of iron oxitl and to provide suitable removable bushings for the wearing parts, which can be removed when corroded and replaced byothers. This insures a long life of the chain.

l may further explain that by such an apparatus [heimat-vapors which arise from the water are conserved and made to do d uty by first heating the jars before they are putinto the water. My apparatus therefore presents the double economy of reusing the water itself and of at the same time using the heat of the escaping or rising vapors.A The heating effecty of the vapor-bath is less than that of the hotwater bath, and the steamsupply is so regulated that the water at the end of the waterbath where the bottles are first put in is not so hot as it is at. the other end. It is my purpose to locate the greater portion of the heating-tank or the lower body thereof below the floor of the room, and thus a great saving in space will be made as compared with an open tank. The heat radiating directly from the surface of the hot water is directed against the thickened bottoms of the jars, though of course, as my general explanation indicates, the spirit of this portion of my device could be embodied in a different form, but so as to give the bottom of the bott-les more heat. than that applied to other portions for the purpose of minimizing the danger of breakage.

The tank A5 maybe placed in any desired p0- sition and even on the roof ofthe building and may besupplied with partitions or shelves, as indicated diagrammatically, to serve further to cool the water.

Ihave described in detail a particular construction embodying yinvention; but it is of course evident tl at lthe parts may be greatly varied inf form, construction, and arrangement and that some of the parts may be omitted and others-used with parts not herein sho'wn without departing from the spirit of IOO IIO

niyinvention. I therefore do not limit myself to the construction shown.

Generally speaking,the object of my in vention iste gradually bring the bottles and their contents to a greater heat,while avoiding to a great degree the breakage of the bottles and by means of-an apparatus which occupies the least possible space and utilizes to the greatest possible degree the heat and water required.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: When the water in the tank is properly heated, the chain is set in motion in the direction indicated by the arrow and the jars, bottles, cans, or other receptacles contained inv the boxes E are placed upon the platforms at the charging-opening A. (See Fig. l.) These receptacles are then moved backward in the part or box A, and the more or less cold water or spray froin the pipes A2 falls upon them. The platforms then pass down through the working door B, and the receptacles become enveloped in the steam in the upper'part of the tank C. As these receptacles are cold, they condense aportion the steam and take up its heat, thus gradually becoming heated as they pass along the upper part of the tank. The platforms are preferably made of iron, and in this event they also take up the heat and conduct it to the receptacles. The radiating heat of the hotI water is also more or less absorbed by the receptacles in their passage through the upper part of the tank. When the receptacles reach the end of the tank, they are submerged in the warm Water and are thus further heated. I prefer to have the steam-pipes regulated so that the Water heated by the pipes C2 will not be as Warm as the Water heated by the pipes C', and hence as the receptacles move along through the Water they pass suc-A cessively into an area of higher temperature until they are moved out of the Water at the end of the tank. The temperature of the Water will of course be regulated to correspond to the result desired and the material'treated, and it will be seen that the tank can be so arranged as to gradually heat up the receptacles, said receptacles being moved successively into varying temperatures due to the variable4 temperature of the water. When the platforms pass out of the water, they pass up through the floor and beneath the pipes A2 in the upper part or box A and are sprayed with the cold Water passing therefrom, so that they will be properly cooled when they reach the opening A', where they are to be removed. I prefer to arrange the device as shown, so that the water from the pipes A2 first comes into contact with the hot receptacles and then comes into contact with the cold receptacles, and this is so becausethe heat ed bottles Firstrecei ve this water and it then trickles down upon the incoming coldbottles. Under these conditions the cold water absorbs the heat from the hot receptacles and the heat is then abstracted by contact-With the cold receptacles. The

water then falls into the pan and passes down into the tank and is again pumped to the pipes A'. This arrangement permits the water to be used continuously and prevents the Water from becoming overheated. It will be seen that by this construction the chain is made use of throughout its entire length. The receptacles are first partially heated by the relatively cold water in the upper part A. They are then gradually brought to a higher temperature by the steam in the tank C and then bythe hot water in said tank. They then pass up into the upper part and are there cooled, so as to be ready for removal when they reach the opening A.

l claiml. An apparatus for treating perishable material, comprisinga continuous inclosed tank containing Water, means for heating the war' ter so that its temperature willvary tmone end toward the other, means for admitting steam into the tank above the water to create a steam-charged space, and acarrying device for receiving and moving the material along said tank successively through the steam-space and the Water-space.

2. An apparatus for treating perishable material, comprising two parts, one above the other, an endless chain carrying a series of platforms, upon which the material to be treated is carried, and movably mounted in said parts, means for heating the material when in the lower part of the apparatus, the chain in the upper part being looped so that one part is above the other, a Water-spraying device in the upper part adapted to spray Water so that it passes successively from one series of platforms lto the other, and means for continuously using this Water, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus for reheating bottles and the like, containing a hot-vapor chamber, a hot-Water chamber with a free communication between the two, and means for carrying the articles to be treated successively through the hot-vapor chamber and the hot- Water chamber and through such communication and Withoutexposure to other media than such hot Water and hot vapor.

4:. An apparatus for reheating bottles and the like, containing a hot-vapor chamber, a hot-Water chamber with a free communication between the two, and an endless conveyer adapted to carry at any part of its length the article to be treated and arranged to pass successively through the hot-vapor chamber and the hot-Water chamber and through such communication and without exposure to other media than such hot Water and hot vapor.

5. An apparatus for reheating bottles and the like, containing a hot-vapor chamber, a hot-water chamber with a free communication between the two, and an endless conveyer adapted to carry at any part of its length the article to be treated and arranged tot pass successively through the hot-vapor IOO IIO

chamber and the hot-Water chamber and through such communication and without exposure to other media than such hot Water and hot vapor, said conveyer having a series 5 of baskets or cages in which the bottles are 1o vapor so as to superheat by radiation from such surface that portion of an object in the vapor exposed to such surface, a carrying de- Vice to carry the bottles or the like through the hot-vapor chamber, with the thickened 15 portions of the bottles turned toward such heating-surface, for the purpose described.

7. In an apparatus for reheating,` bottles and the like, the combination of atank forinng within itself an inclosed heating-cham- :o ber, consisting of an upper hot-vapor chainber or portion and a lower hot-Water chamber or portion, with a conveyer adapted to carry the bottles successively through the two portions of the inclosed heating-chamber, without exposing them to other media.

8. In an apparatus for reheatiug,r bottles and the like, a tank containing an upperhotvapor chamber, a lower hot-Water chamber or space, a conveyer adapted to carry the bottles successively through the two chambers, and 'steam and Water supplies so arranged as to keep the Water at one end of the water space hotter than at the other.

9. An apparatus for reheating articles, couiprising a hot-Water chamber and a conveyer, with suitable supports and driving mechanism, a part of the conveyer lying along and in proximity to the surface of the hot Water to receive heat from such surface and another part lying through the body of the hot water to receive heat from such water.

RICHARD BIRKHOLZ.

Witnesses:

STAUNTON B. Peck, FRANCIS W. PARKER. 

